Team Malaysia

Thursday, March 13, 2014

UCI will be taken to task

UNHAPPY: Coach Beasley riled over inconsistent rulings in the keirin

THE Asian Games will be the national track squad's main target this year.

But before that, head coach John Beasley will first take the
International Cycling Union (UCI) to task over inconsistent rulings in
the keirin that have constantly affected Malaysia in major meets.
Not allowing the dust to settle on Azizulhasni Awang's controversial
disqualification from the second round of the World Championships keirin
event in Cali, Colombia last month, Beasley is preparing an article to
point out the exact weaknesses to the UCI.

"The problem was two years ago the UCI made a ruling which doesn't
allow us to present our case even if we have proof," said Beasley.

Azizulhasni was disqualified from the second round of the keirin after
being judged to have caused a crash involving Australia's Matthew
Glaetzer, robbing him of a spot in the final.

"The ruling was made based on video evidence. But even if we had video
evidence that showed otherwise it would not be accepted when clearly
what we saw was that Glaetzer was the one who ran into Azizul," said
Beasley.

Beasley added that he is preparing an article to be presented to the
UCI which exposes inconsistencies in the ruling made in the keirin
throughout last season, including video evidence.
Azizulhasni was twice disqualified last season, the first time in the final at Round Three of the World Cup in Guadalajara.

"I think the UCI is trying to sanitise the keirin too much that it is
taking away the excitement. Crashes do happen, but the guidelines should
be clear. What is happening now is that the ruling changes according to
the commissaires on duty."

Beasley was speaking after a ceremony where the track endurance squad
received sponsorship from Belgian bicycle manufacturer Ridley at the
National Sports Council (NSC) yesterday.
Also present were NSC director general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong and
Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) deputy president Datuk Naim
Mohamad.

While the track endurance squad have been set a target of earning a
spot at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, while aiming for medals at
the 2020 Games, Beasley said the main focus this year will be on the
Asian Games.

"We enter the Commonwealth Games defending the keirin gold, but this
time the Australians, New Zealanders and British are a step above. Of
course we should be aiming for medals," said Beasley.
"The gold medal targets will be at the Asian Games. That's our main
focus. We've set one gold medal as our target, while we could be in the
running for more, especially with the improvement shown by Fatehah
Mustapa.

"She is now truly a world class keirin rider herself. So we could at
least be looking at a first ever medal in a women's event at the Asian
Games and even the Commonwealth Games."

The national track endurance squad after receiving the sponsorship
from Belgian bicycle manufacturer Ridley at the National Sports Council
yesterday. Bernama pic